Different paths to Final Four for Calipari, Pitino

The Cardinals are led by point guard Peyton Siva and center Gorgui Dieng. Yet they went down the stretch in a tight game against Florida on Saturday with Siva gone from the game with five fouls and with a relatively unheralded freshman, Chane Behanan, taking over.

“We may not have as much talent in certain areas as other teams. But there’s young talent and we’re going to develop,’ Pitino said. “The great thing about March Madness and college basketball is that, generally speaking, in the pros, 90 percent of the time, the best team is going to win a five- or seven-game series. In college, it”s a one-game stint, maybe somebody shoots great, anything can happen.’

Kansas has this year”s only unanimous all-AP selection in junior Thomas Robinson, who figures to be an NBA lottery pick if he leaves.

He could spend much of the night Saturday matched up against Sullinger, who sat out with back spasms when these teams met in December and Kansas won 78-67.

“He’s one of those kids that, even when he doesn’t play his best, he still gets numbers,’ Self said of Robinson. “Some kids, that happens, and they get eight points, four rebounds. He doesn”t play well and he ends up with 15 and 11. It’s such a bonus when you can pencil that in for the most part.’

Players like that must make coaching easy. Calipari recognizes there are plenty of them ” on all four teams at this years Final Four. Coaches coach, he said. Players win.

“Everyone’s talented,’ Calipari said. “Yes, we have good players. So does everyone else. You think they just have a system and that”s why they’re winning? They do it because they’ve got basketball players.’”

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